Police chiefs have warned angry residents that they will not tolerate vigilantes with or without shotguns on the streets of Newent after news of another violent attack emerged.

A number of burglaries and assaults in the town have sparked calls on social media for local people to take matters into their own hands.

And civic leaders have warned that somebody could get hurt if the police do not stop a spate of rural thefts from those living in rural areas around the town where guns are part of everyday country life.

Lee Solly, who is now acting inspector for the Forest of Dean, at a crime scene

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But Acting Inspector for the Forest of Dean, Lee Solly, said the latest attack is a coincidence and warned locals not to carry out on-line suggestions to set up patrols in the area to deter the criminals.

He said : “Vigilante groups will not be tolerated on the streets of Newent and will be treated like any other criminal organisation.

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Former mayor Roger Beard recently told Newent Town Council that local people had had enough and it was time Gloucestershire Constabulary considered re-opening a police station in the town centre.

Mr Beard, whose house was recently targeted by burglars, believes Newent’s crime statistics are artificially low because people struggle to get through on the 101 number.

Town councillor Mary Duncan warned that “somebody is going to get hurt” because many country people carry shotguns and others said there had been talk in the town of locals patrolling the streets with baseball bats.

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Inspector Solly said he had increased patrols in Newent, particularly during the early evening, and a covert operation was aiming to find those responsible for the farm thefts.

Officers from Gloucestershire Constabulary are also working with the NFU to install tracking devices on farming machinery and have joined forces with West Mercia amid suspicions the thieves are coming from outside the county.

The Inspector has called on residents to carry on reporting crime so police have a full picture of what is going on, which makes it easier to solve it.

Tweet from police in Newent

He said: “I urge anyone with information in the community to pass it onto us and not to confront anyone or put yourselves in danger.

“If anyone sees anything unusual, including what they believe may be a suspicious vehicle, please note down the registration number and call 101 with the information. If you believe a burglary is actually taking place call 999."

Martin Surl

Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl said he would be “disappointed” to hear councillors support vigilantes.

“Most police in the county are unarmed for very good reason and those that do carry weapons are highly trained and disciplined,” he said in a statement.

"There is no excuse for people taking the law into their own hands. The wanton use of weapons can only result in people getting hurt.

“Any hint of people holding shotgun certificates for any purpose other than that granted would result in them being revoked immediately.”